Intro to Rock

$330.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Experience rock climbing in a fun and safe environment. On day-one, develop your movement skills on rock, belaying, rappelling, and simple anchor building. On day-two, we take it to the next level with the building of complex anchors, using removable protection and advanced movement skills. On completion of this course you’ll feel comfortable top-rope climbing on your own.

Courses typically take place at Crest Creek Crags in Strathcona Park, or Comox Lake Crags near Cumberland.

Mountain Skills Fly-In

$795.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This course is identical to our Complete Mountain Skills course, but with a helicopter to whisk you straight into the alpine classroom, it becomes possible to cover the same curriculum in just three days. Learn all the basics of mountaineering, from movement on snow, rock, and ice, to anchoring and belaying in all these mediums, glacier travel, route finding, and much more.

Our Intro to Rock or equivalent training or experience in rope work fundamentals are recommended but not essential.

Learn to Lead, Traditional

$530.00 / person

(at 2:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

If you have spent some time top-rope climbing and feel ready to begin lead climbing, make sure you do so safely by learning correct techniques from the start. On this two-day course, you will learn everything you need to know to lead safe pitches including placement of protection e.g. cams and stoppers, planning your ascents, and station management. Even if you have already begun lead climbing, instruction from our qualified guides will get you leading in a consistent, safe, and confident manner. Our low ratio ensures high-quality, focused instruction with increased leading time.

Please note that the curriculum also covers sport leading, so if you are unsure about whether to take our traditional or sport leading course, by opting for the traditional course, you will be covered for both types of leading.

3-day Alpine Skills

$495.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This shorter version of our mountain skills training takes advantage of quick access into alpine terrain to give an action-packed long weekend course. On the first day, hike in, make camp, and head straight for the snow to start training in snow climbing, anchors, and belaying. The second day is a full day of training in climbing and glacier travel. Day-three sees us putting it all together using the skills we have learned to climb to the summit. Descend to break camp and walk out after the climb. Our Intro to Rock course is recommended before you take this course, though it's not essential.

AST1 Mount Washington

$285.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

The Avalanche Skills Training One is an introductory avalanche course designed for individuals with little to no avalanche related experience. Students will learn to recognize avalanche terrain, gain the skills to initiate and manage a self rescue, have a basic understanding of how weather contributes to avalanche hazard, be able to understand and interpret avalanche bulletins and the hazard scale, be able to interpret and utilize the Avaluator card and learn basic analysis of layers in the snowpack. This is a two-day course with one evening session. IAG courses operate from our slopeside classroom making access to field sessions quick and easy. On our full field day we provide you with a lift ticket to facilitate quick and easy access up into the snow thus maximizing time spent looking at and travelling through real avalanche terrain.

Crevasse Rescue

$140.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Get ready for glacier travel in summer or winter with a focused day of crevasse rescue training. We can accommodate participants with experience or without, so the course can act as both an introduction to these skills or as a refresher. Please keep in mind that this is not a complete mountain skills course and that it only focuses on technical systems for crevasse rescue. If you are new to travel over technical terrain in the mountains, one of our winter or summer mountain skills courses, which includes crevasse rescue amongst many other skills, may be more appropriate.

Tantalus Mountain Skills

$980.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

If you have training and/or experience in basic mountain skills and are looking to take it to the next level, join us on a three day course in the spectacular Tantalus Range. A short helicopter trip from Squamish drops us in the amazing Serratus/Dione Col, the site of the ACC Jim Haberl Hut. The hut makes for a comfortable stay while we spend three
intensive days learning skills and putting them to use on some of the many challenging objectives near the hut.

AST1 Mount Cain

$310.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

The Avalanche Skills Training One is an introductory avalanche course designed for individuals with little to no avalanche related experience. Students will learn to recognize avalanche terrain, gain the skills to initiate and manage a self rescue, have a basic understanding of how weather contributes to avalanche hazard, be able to understand and interpret avalanche bulletins and the hazard scale, be able to interpret and utilize the Avaluator card and learn basic analysis of layers in the snowpack. This is a two-day course with one evening session. IAG courses operate from our slopeside classroom making access to field sessions quick and easy. On our full field day we provide you with a lift ticket to facilitate quick and easy access up into the snow thus maximizing time spent looking at and travelling through real avalanche terrain.

Rock Refresher

$165.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This one-day course is perfect for those who have some rock climbing experience and would like to refresh their skills and tighten up their safety systems. It is also well-suited to those who wish to take one of our mountaineering courses but first need to review the fundamentals of rope systems.

The emphasis is on technical systems (anchors, belaying, rappelling etc.) to ensure that when you go out there, you are doing things the right way to make rock climbing as safe as it should be.

Intro Winter Travel

$295.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Looking to get into the mountains in winter? This two-day backcountry tour with one night of winter camping will get you started with the basics of gear choice, trip planning, winter camping, movement through mountain terrain in winter, avalanche awareness, map and terrain skills, and more. This course will help you take that first step into the winter backcountry.

Please note: the trip scheduled for April 1-2 is for skiers/splitboarders, though we also offer this course for snowshoers. Please get in touch to set up a new trip.

AST2 Mount Washington

$565.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

The Avalanche Skills Training two is an advanced avalanche course which takes a closer look at how avalanches form and how to manage more complex terrain. We delve deeper into the snowpack and learn how to apply different tests to help gain an understanding of snow stability and strength. Transceiver training moves into the realm of multiple beacon searches and how to solve these sometimes complex searches. The AST1 or equivalent training or experience are required as a prerequisite for this course. Participants should be intermediate skiers as there are usually many ascents and descents. This is a four-day course with two evening sessions. In the dates for courses listed below where you see a date range of four days, it is a course of four consecutive days. Where you see a date range of nine days, it indicates a course that is running over two consecutive weekends.

Advanced Winter Skills

$745.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This five-day course caters to the island ski tourer who is looking to gain the skills and knowledge to travel efficiently and safely through our island terrain in the winter. Vancouver Island Mountains are unique in snowpack and topography which require the back country traveler to be well versed in route finding, navigation, rope management and avalanche hazard evaluation. This course will cover skills such as avalanche hazard management, rope management including protecting, belaying and lowering, crevasse rescue skills and white-out navigation. This is an advanced-level course and the participant should be familiar with common climbing knots, hold a minimum AST1 certificate and be comfortable traveling for extended days in a backcountry winter environment.

Rock Rescue

$330.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Imagine yourself belaying a partner on a climb when a mishap befalls them and they are hanging on the other end of the rope with you stuck on belay and unable to do anything. If you do any multi-pitch climbing, whether as a leader or a follower, you could find yourself in this scenario. If having the skills to manage these situations is of interest to you, then our two-day Rock Rescue course is exactly what you need.

On day-one, we cover all the basics of improvised self-rescue, from rescue anchors and station-management to blocking and escaping belays. On day-two, we move on to raising and lowering systems and, depending on what group experience allow for, we may also deal with more complicated scenarios involving multiple lowers, rappels with victims, passing knots, rope ascending, and other techniques used in multi-pitch rescue.

Take a look at Chek News to see their story on our Rock Rescue courses.

Avalanche Skills Training 1 for Sledders - Lodge Based at Brohm Ridge

$400.00 / person

(at 7:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Black Tusk Snowmobile club in conjunction with Island Alpine Guides and sledding avalanche guru Niko Weiss are presenting these AST1 courses based from the Alpine Learning Centre at Brohm Ridge. These courses maximize field time and save the classroom work for the lodge at night. Learn the skills and knowledge required to understand the risk of avalanches, recognize the terrain and conditions that create them, reduce or manage risk while travelling or playing in avalanche areas, utilize Public Avalanche Bulletins and other decision making tools and effect a self or companion rescue using beacon probe and shovel.

AST1 For Sledders

$355.00 / person

(at 7:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This is the Avalanche Skills Training One with the curriculum modified to aim straight at snowmobilers and their specific approach to experiencing the mountains in winter. The course is taught by a very experienced avalanche forecaster who is also a sledder and who specializes in avalanche education for sledders. The Avalanche Skills Training One is an introductory avalanche course designed for individuals with little to no formal avalanche training. Students will learn to recognize avalanche terrain, gain the skills to initiate and manage a self rescue, have a basic understanding of how weather contributes to avalanche hazard, be able to understand and interpret avalanche bulletins and the hazard scale, be able to interpret and utilize the Avaluator card and learn basic analysis of layers in the snowpack. This is a two day course with one evening session. Location TBA based on conditions but likely the Mount Washington area.

Complete Mountain Skills

$825.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

On this five-day course, you will learn all the basics of mountaineering, from movement on snow, rock, and ice, to anchoring and belaying in all these mediums, glacier travel, route finding, and much more.

Our Intro to Rock course, or equivalent training or experience in rope work fundamentals, is recommended but not essential.

Backcountry Performance

$495.00 / person

(at 2:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

An increasing number of people are thinking about getting into the backcountry these days. The numbers on our avalanche courses are a good indication of that! But for many, it's their skiing or snowboarding skills in natural snow conditions that need attention. That's why we've developed this program consisting of three, two-hour, low-ratio sessions with a high-end ski or snowboard coach, followed by a day of off-piste backcountry with our certified guides.

Please note that the next scheduled course, March 10-16, is spread out over three, non-consecutive days: Part 1 of the program consists of three, two-hour sessions with a Mount Washington instructor on Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11. Part 2 of the program consists of a full-day day of off-piste backcountry with an IAG guide on Thursday, March 16.

Learn to Lead, Sport

$265.00 / person

(at 2:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

On this one-day course, we'll cover all the skills and systems you need to lead sport pitches, from anchor building on bolts, to lead belaying, clipping strategies, top-of-climb changeovers and safe rappels. We'll look for the gaps in your knowledge on sport leading and fill them with tons of solid technical systems and good judgement. Our low ratio ensures high-quality, focused instruction with increased leading time.

Intro to Rock, Quadra Island

$330.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Learn to rock climb using the beautiful and newly-developed Quadra Island crags.

On day one, you will develop your movement skills on rock, belaying, rappelling, and using simple anchor building. On day two, we take it to the next level with the building of complex anchors, using removable protection and advanced movement skills. On completion of this course you’ll feel comfortable top-rope climbing on your own.

We have been invited to the island by Phil Stone, who has been the driving force behind the development of these crags. Phil is a resident islander, climber and renowned author of Island Alpine, the go-to book for climbing on Vancouver Island.

AST2 for Sledders Coquihalla Lakes Lodge

$600.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This advanced avalanche course for sledders will run from the Coquihalla Lakes Lodge just east of the Coquihalla Summit. The Avalanche Skills Training two is an advanced avalanche course which takes a closer look at how avalanches form and how to manage more complex terrain. We delve deeper into the snow pack and learn how to apply different tests to help gain an understanding of snow stability and strength. Transceiver training moves into the realm of multiple beacon searches and how to solve these sometimes complex searches. The AST1 or equivalent training or experience are required as a prerequisite for this course. Participants should be at least intermediate sledders and there will be long days on this course. This is a four day course with three evening sessions.

Mountain Improv.

$165.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

A course featuring all kinds of techniques to manage tricky situations in the mountains. Curriculum will include principals of anchor building with an emphasis on improvised anchors using trees, boulders, jammed knots, threads and much else. Rappelling safety including various back-up methods, multiple rappel techniques and rope options. We also look at all your lightweight gear options and things you may want to have on your island-specific mini rack.

Alpine Rock Skills

$495.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

We've had many requests for an alpine rock climbing skills course, so here it is! Travelling in the island alps, or any mountain range for that matter, inevitably involves managing rock climbing terrain in the fourth- and low-to-mid fifth-class range. The pitching or end roping techniques that we use at the crags are not appropriate in this terrain as they are too slow and actually increase risk from hazards like rock fall. On this three-day course, we'll cover all the short-roping and short-pitching techniques that you need to move efficiently in alpine rock terrain, as well as route-finding skills, transitions from snow and ice to rock, and much more.

Avalanche Skills Field Day

$135.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Our Avalanche Skills Field day is either a stand alone, one-day, introductory avalanche field course or part two of an Avalanche Skills Training One course for those who have done our one-day Avalanche Skills Intro and who wish to gain the AST1 certificate. Out on the field, we apply avalanche theory by looking at real avalanche terrain, doing group travel exercises in the terrain, digging snow profiles, using the Avaluator Trip Planner and Slope Assessment Toll, doing scenario-based companion rescue practice and much more.

Avalanche Skills Intro, Victoria

$135.00 / person

(at 8:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Starting this season, we are happy to announce another option for getting your avalanche skills training. Our Victoria-based, one-day course covers all of the in-classroom theory sessions of the Canadian Avalanche Centre Avalanche Skills Training One curriculum, as well as an introduction to the basics of companion rescue. This allows students to get part one of the training done in the city first before travelling to the mountains on another weekend to do the single Avalanche Skills Field Day. That gives you a second day to play in the mountains on the second weekend, or to take the highly-beneficial, one-day AST Plus course.

The combination of the Avalanche Skills Intro followed by the Avalanche Skills Field Day results in being awarded the AST1 certificate, though the one-day course is a worthy endeavour on its own, even if you cannot make the Field Day.

One-day Rock Experience

$165.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

A fun-filled day at the Comox Lake crags introducing you to the exciting sport of rock climbing. Learn to move fluidly on the rock as you climb, belay, and rappel (descend). Suitable for all ages and a great day for a family.

Wilderness Navigation One

$140.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Wilderness Navigation One is single-day, introductory course where participants will learn how to plan safe and efficient wilderness routes using topographic maps and a compass, along with the ability to recognise other useful sources of information.

The curriculum includes interpreting all of the features on topographic maps, understanding scale, grid reference, latitude and longitude, relating features on a map to features on the ground, understanding compasses, taking bearings in the field and on the map, re-sectioning, travelling on bearings through terrain, and much more.

Please note that to achieve course objectives, participants must be prepared to travel approximately 3-4km, including sections through bush and over rough terrain.

To further your training, we recommend following up with our one-day GPS Navigation course.

One-day Snow Skills

$140.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This one-day course is a chance to cover a whole bunch of snow climbing fundamentals in a short timeframe, including everything from strategic route selection, step-making, and ice axe use, all the way to end roping, short roping and snow anchors.

Glacier Ski Course

$495.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Take your ski touring to the next level by learning all about skiing in glaciated terrain. Glacier formation, route finding, roping for glacier travel and crevasse rescue are all covered in this 3 day course which takes place in the spectacular Spearhead Range. This trip is off Island to take advantage of the heavily crevassed terrain in the Coast Mountains.

GPS Navigation

$140.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Global Positioning Systems are incredible pieces of technology that can greatly enhance your spectrum of options in wilderness navigation. On this one-day course, we'll demystify these devices by teaching you how the map, compass and the GPS unit are related, what UTM, latitude and longitude location are and how to work with each on the GPS, how to mark a waypoint and enter routes, how to travel to waypoints and on routes, how to use the correct map datum settings, and much more.

Please note that we consider it unsafe and unwise to attempt to use a GPS for wilderness navigation if you do not first have a good understanding of old school map and compass navigation. Therefore we ask that you have the Wilderness Navigation One or similar training or experience before taking our GPS course.

Please note that to achieve course objectives participants must be prepared to travel through bush and over rough terrain.

AST Plus

$150.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

For many people, taking the step from avalanche skills training to actually getting out touring in the backcountry can be a bit daunting. This course bridges the gap from theory to practice. The idea was actually developed by some of our students and the results have been spectacular. Your day starts with a trip-planning meeting facilitated by an experienced guide, followed by a full day of touring in avalanche terrain and a structured debrief to end the day. Students will gain the confidence to plan and execute their own trips as well as a ton of local knowledge about their touring destinations.

AST2 Mount Cain

$580.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

The Avalanche Skills Training two is an advanced avalanche course which takes a closer look at how avalanches form and how to manage more complex terrain. We delve deeper into the snowpack and learn how to apply different tests to help gain an understanding of snow stability and strength. Transceiver training moves into the realm of multiple beacon searches and how to solve these sometimes complex searches. The AST1 or equivalent training or experience are required as a prerequisite for this course. Participants should be intermediate skiers as there are usually many ascents and descents. This is a four-day course with two evening sessions. In the dates for courses listed below where you see a date range of four days, it is a course of four consecutive days. Where you see a date range of nine days it indicates a course that is running over two consecutive weekends.

Weekend Alpine Skills Refresher

$215.00 / person

(at 6:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This two-day course involves a quick trip into the alpine to refresh your skills in snow climbing, glacier travel, and crevasse rescue. The specific curriculum will depend on the experience level and objectives of the group.

Rock Day Quadra Island

$165.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This one-day course is designed for those that have done some climbing (indoors or out) who would like to refresh previously-learned skills and acquire new ones. Exact curriculum will be designed by the assembled group, but will typically involve anchor building, outdoor rock movement skills, and backed-up rappelling techniques—and, of course, lots of climbing!

All Courses

locally owned & operated

Welcome to IAG

We’re based right here in Comox Valley, on the edge of Strathcona Provincial Park. IAG is Vancouver Island’s premier Alpine Guiding outfit, and your ticket to exploring the spectacular alpine and coastal areas on the island and BC's Coast Ranges.

Our goal is to provide you with awesome experiences where you learn valuable skills and have fun along the way. Our experienced guides are certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and/or are members of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Your safety is always our top priority.

Our vast back yard offers breathtaking scenery and many challenging and rewarding adventures, and we can’t wait to share them with you.